Uveitis transition service

This resource is intended to provide information about the uveitis transition service provided by the transition team at Sheffield Children’s Hospital and the Royal Hallamshire Hospital.

What is the purpose of a uveitis transition clinic?

The transition clinic is aimed for young people over the age of 11 years old. It provides the young person and their family the opportunity to meet the adult uveitis team alongside the paediatric uveitis team in clinic. This helps ensure a smooth transferral of care when the time arises to go to adult services.

The purpose of the transition clinic is to:

• Treat you more independently and more like an adult.
• Allow you to ask questions and talk to a nurse on your own and in confidence.
• Prepare you and your family for being seen in the adult hospital.

How often do I attend these clinics?

The transition clinics run 4 times a year and are located at both Sheffield Children’s Hospital and the Royal Hallamshire Hospital. Ideally you will come to a transition clinic around once a year from the ages of 11 to 16 years.

What happens in transition clinic?

Both the adult uveitis and paediatric uveitis team will be in the clinic to discuss your diagnosis and treatment. Although this makes for a busy room, it is very useful for everyone to meet and understand the young person’s individual needs. You will be allocated a transition keyworker who will be happy to advise you on transition.

What if I don’t want to be seen without my parents?

Lots of people will be worried about being seen on their own for the first time. If you are worried about being seen in clinic without your parents and would like to speak to the rheumatology nurses, please call the number on the back page.

What will we speak about when I am on my own?

• Home life
• Education or employment
• Activities
• Alcohol/Drug safety
• Sexual health
• Mental health
• Social media and online safety

What if I am due to have a blood test at my appointment?

If you are seen at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, you will have your blood test in the blood room in the outpatients department by the main entrance. If your transition appointment is at the Royal Hallamshire department, you will have your blood test at outpatient phlebotomy outpatients on C floor.

Useful information

You will not be under the care of adult services until you are over 16 years of age and are ready to move. This decision will be made with you. Once you have moved to adult services, accessing medical help out of hours changes:

• For eye emergencies, eye casualty is open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm. Outside of these times you would have to go to the walk in centre or Accident and Emergency at the Northern General Hospital.